The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-05-21
A TERRIBLE STORM.

ming Shafts-The Latter Probably Grip
pied for Life.
ST LOUIS, May 16-At dawn yesterday
morning all indications pointed to very
warm day, and later the streets leading
TO the parks and drives were crowded
with vehicles containing loads of swelter-
ing humanity on their way out for a
breath of fresh country air Be-
fore three o'clock in the afternoon
many Of them wished that they
had remained at home The atmosphere
was unusually heavy, and this, together
with the scorching rays Of the sun, made
breathing difficult and life, in conse-
quence, almost miserable. Everybody
remarked that 1t was a hot day, and many
predicted that cooling shower with It's
refreshing effect, would come before night
fall. About noon threatening clouds be-
gan to gather and at two o'clock pre-
scented an omnous appearance, betoken-
ing something worse than refreshing
shower. Vivid flashes Of lightning,
followed by loud and reverberating claps
of thunder, Indicated that the storm was
near at hand People out in vehicles,
at the picnics, parks and other resorts
freouented by large numbers on Sun
in most cases were fortunate enough to
get under cover before the heavily
charged clouds let loose their supply OF
water. The lightning flashed almost in
cessantly during the early part OF
the storm, the fiery bolts
darting over house-tops and
along the streets in manner that caused
considerable fright among the more timid.
The electrical currents flashed danger
ously near the earth, giving an effect of
remarkable brillancy. The thunder was
of the heavy rolling order, resembling
in character the heavy mus
kerry and battery charges on battle
field with two great armies opposing.
The rain fell in torrents for awhile, and
after brief intermission resumed heavier
than before, the lightning and thunder
Accomplishments not showing any signs
of exhausting their capacity.
The lightning did not expend itself in
the air. as the sacrifice of two human
lives and damaged houses, trees, sheds
and other property will testify. About
half-past two o'clock tele-
phone message reached the Fifth
district station bringing the in
. lcllgcUfG Oh ldldllIl III bHO
rear of the residence of George A. Rub
land, 4119 Morgan street. Shortly before
three o'clock Bernard Hahn and Reinhold
Paschler left the cable station on Vande
venter avenue and Morgan street with
the intention of going to Rinkeps. They
! were walking on the Narrow
gauge railroad track, and were
passing Mr.. Kuhland's stable
when the heavy rain drops warned them
: to seek shelter. Paschler wanted to turn
/ back to the station, but Hahn insisted on
/ waiting under the projecting roof Of the
! stable until the rain subsidized A number
/ of young men and boys who were play
! ing ball on common near by crowded
against the north end of the stable and
/ Hahn and Paschler took the west side.
Mr.. Rutland was busily engaged inside
! applying a coat of red paint to a baby
carriage, with Florence, his little daugh-
/ ter, seven years of age, standing at his
| side looking on. At about eight minutes
| past three o'clock a bolt of the electrical
fluid shot through the stable and few
seconds later Hahu's dead body was found
! lying in a deep trench filled with water,
/ few feet from where he was standing,
with Paschler lying at his side in an un-
conscious condition and his limbs partially
paralyzed. Mr. Rutland was in the act of
dipping his brush into the paint pot
/ when the current passed through
the stable, add before he realized
what struck him he was thrown
backward, overturning the buggy.
He recovered in less than minute, and,
looking about, saw his little girl lying at
the side of the buggy, with paint all over
her face, head and clothing Looking at
his own clothing, he saw good
portion of the contents Of the pot
A lot Of small splinters, several
broken boards, a wrecked door, a
melted iron chain and hinge, showed the
course Of the bolt, Mr. Rutland carried
the child into the house. where she soon
recovered from the effects of the shock.
Her mother mistook the red paint which
covered the child's head and face fol
blood when she was being borne to the
house and almost swooned at the sight.
In the meantime Paschler partially re-
covered. and seeing the body of his com
panion lying in the water, staggered tC
the ward in rear of Mr.. II. L. Gritz-
machers residence, for assistance. He
was assisted in the house by
Mr.. Gritzmacher, when he looked
around in a dazed manner. Hahn's
body was then taken in and messenger
dispatched in the heavy rain for medica
aid. Before its arrival restorative:
were applied to Paschler and every
effort made to insure his comfort by Mr.
Gritzmachers family. Acting Ser
geant Arrow and Oficer Mace reached
the house after the fatal flash an(
telephoned for an ambulance. On the ar
rival of the physician they examined
Hahn's body and pronounced life extinct
Paschler's condition was pronounced Sc
rious. He was sent to his home at 2O2%
Wash street, where Hahn also resided
with his sister The coroner was notified
of Hahn's death, and his body was order
ed TO the morgue. Hahn was thirty-ni
years of age and single.
Paschler, who will probably recover
but in all probability never have the full
use of his limbs, is twenty-seven years Of
age and unmarried. He is employed a
the Dozier-W eyl Cracker Company, ant
boards at the residence Of Hahn's sister
1t was only few minutes prior to tn
death of Horn that Charles Rees, a brick
IL -. IL s1ava IN AL n